Dating under the radar

When moving to Kyrgyzstan, I knew very little of it. Geographically, I was aware it neighboured Kazakhstan and China. Architecturally, I expected the influence of Russia, as the country had been a republic of the Soviet Union. As a lesbian, I had no idea what was in store.

Before starting my new role as a kindergarten teacher, I decided to cycle across Bishkek: the bustling, river-valley city I would now call home. With more than 80% of the population being Muslim, I expected to see a variety of head coverings. Instead, I experienced salons on every street with women